Award Winning Blog - Agitator

The Shape of a Good Story

Everyone’s got a story. If only this were true. In our extensive review of fundraising copy we find the sector copy reads more like an academic journal than an involving work of fiction. In case you’re wondering, the latter produces more reading and giving. The story part of the sector’s writing is especially weak. So, […]

Learn More August 25, 2021

No More Nudges

Behavioural Economics took flight only to come crashing down with a bang. Failure to replicate even the most basic of findings has started to raise eyebrows and questions. I can personally attest to this. I wasn’t immune to the allure of cognitive biases and the quick and easy interventions they offer – a.k.a nudges. I […]

Learn More August 23, 2021

Fundraising’s Silver Bullet

In the nonprofit world where 7 out of 10 newly acquired donors will not give to that organization again, you’d think fundraisers and CEOs would be tripping over themselves to gain ANY insight on what they could be doing to hold on to supporters by improving donor experiences. The commercial world figured out the value […]

Learn More August 20, 2021

Fundraisers Giving Back

One of the truly impressive qualities of folks in fundraising is their generosity when it comes to giving back to advance our trade. You can see this generosity in the Comments sections of The Agitator –the willingness to share criticism, thoughts, and ideas. ….And in the countless hours of webinars and conferences presented by dozens […]

Learn More August 18, 2021

The Now or Never Effect

Faux deadlines are a stock in trade for online fundraising. “Faux” because most organizations will take every penny that comes in past the deadline and even if there is a match thrown in to juice the offer – e.g. give by Date X and your gift will be matched. But does it work? And “work” […]

Learn More August 16, 2021

Conference with 100% Money Back Guarantee

If a conference promised me, The speakers will blow my mind Killer swag (speaking of which, DonorVoice got killer swag as part of our PETA sponsorship which is neither here nor there but rarely is the swag killer and so props to PETA) 100% money back guarantee I’d sign up right away. Hell, we’d sponsor […]

Learn More August 13, 2021